This initiative will insure CEF's goal to help economically
disadvantaged students with a Catholic school education and
provide them with the hope of becoming future civic leaders,
valued employees, and community volunteers," says Riordan,
president of CEF's Legacy Society.
A recent study conducted by
LMU/LA Center for Catholic Education shows that students
supported by the CEF, who are the most vulnerable, are
better prepared for college than their peers at comparable
public schools. In fact, 98 percent of CEF students
graduate from high school in four year and 98 percent go on
to college.
The impetus for the
campaign was a $11.3 million endowment gift from the Frank
and Blanche Seaver Trust. "The Seaver gift will provide for
at least 600 additional tuition awards every year, adding to
7,300 awards currently provided by CEF," says Kathleen
Anderson, CEF Executive Director. "We know that 27,000
students attending our Catholic schools are eligible for our
awards and we must find a way to help them all."
Riordan, who was founding
president of the CEF in 1987 and continues to serve as a
Trustee, announced the "$100 Million Legacy Campaign" at a
Friday dinner held at his home to also recognize CEF's
founding Board of Regents, who gathered to celebrate the
start of the Foundation's 25th year. Since its inception,
CEF has provided over 120,000 tuition awards for Pre-K
through 12 grade Catholic school students throughout the
Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
In attendance at the dinner
was new Southland Archbishop Jose H. Gomez who observes,
"Catholic schools have a tremendous impact not only on our
area's Catholic families but on the entire Los
Angeles
community as well. Transforming young students into
well-educated, responsible citizens makes CEF a significant
contributor to our future."
Founding CEF Chairman
Cardinal Roger Mahony, who accepted the earlier Seaver gift
on behalf of CEF says, "It pleases me to know of the success
of our CEF students and the impact today from establishing
CEF 24 years ago. CEF provides the most underserved families
in Los
Angeles with a
choice to fulfill their educational dreams at a Catholic
school." Cardinal Mahoney now chairs the Board of Regents.